Sewer and Water Updates

Updates from Evan McMillan

Note: All future updates will be direct links to emails from Public Works

December 21,2025 Lagoon Process Update

July 24, 2025 Lagoon Progress Update

April 29, 2025 Lagoon Progress Update

February 10, 2025 Lagoon Progress Update

January 7, 2025 Public Works Sewer Update

November 7, 2024 Public Works Sewer Update

October 7, 2024 Public Works sewer update

August 2, 2024 Public Works Sewer Update

June 10, 2024 Public Works Sewer Update

April 22, 2024 Public Works Sewer Update

April 8, 2024 Public Works Sewer Update

March 7, 2024 Public Works Sewer Update

February 12, 2024 Public Works Sewer Update

January 5, 2024 Public Works Sewer Update

  • December 8, 2023 Per Evan they have not received any data from the core drilling performed this week. Evan plans to reach out to SMH next week to get an update on this and will let UP know what he hears. Outside of that, there are no other updates to the project itself. We are still awaiting response from KDHE for the Small Town Sewer Grant and the State Revolving Fund Loan application. Evan reached out a few weeks ago and it sounds like they are working through the several applications they have. As for the USDA loan/grant application, we are working towards wrapping up the application and are just waiting on responses from other entities. 
  • November 14, 2023 Funding applications have been sent in to the Small Town Infrastructure Grant and the State Revolving Fund (SRF). The USDA funding application is being finalized and will be complete by the end of the year.
  • The Commission will hold a public hearing on December 14th at 10:50 am to discuss the lagoon project. Project description and amount to be funded through the State Revolving Fund will be discussed. This is dependent on the grant of $1,500,000.00 from the Small Town Infrastructure Grant, which we have completed but, to my understanding, are waiting to hear the final decision from KDHE.  This is largely just a formality for the SRF loan application, as they require a public hearing with advertisement in the local newspaper. Feel free to attend if you would like, but this will mainly be a reiteration of what has been discussed in our previous meetings.
  • As for the lagoon location, we will be having our Geotechnical engineers take more samples out by Hole #5 and Hole #6 on the golf course. We will be boring deeper on hole #5 to see how thick the rock layer is, and performing a few additional samples near hole #6. This is planned for the week of December 4th
  • October 17, 2023 Results came back from the geotechnical study and it showed fairly shallow rock at both the burn pit and hole 5. There are a few areas with slightly lower bed rock which may be a possible lagoon location, but we plan to look into other potential sites to see if there is a better option. SMH is working with Terracon to get their input on some other possible locations, I will let you know what I hear.
  • Funding has been submitted for both the Small Town Water and Sewer Infrastructure Grant, and the KDHE State Revolving Fund (SRF). We received notice that this project is eligible for a large grant under the STWSIA grant (Small Town) which they have mentioned being up to $1,500,000.00 pending available funds. We will know how much we are locked in within the next few months, hopefully sooner. As for the SRF funding, we are eligible for up to 30% loan forgiveness on this project, also pending available funds.
  • The USDA funding application is nearly complete, just waiting on some responses for the environmental portion before we can get it finalized. There will likely be an income study performed by USDA to determine what kind of loan forgiveness is available.
  • September 12, 2023 Terracon did core sampling on Friday at the burn pile and hole 5. Additional samples may be needed. We have no additional information other than “the rock is shallow, hard and there is a lot of it.”  After the samples are taken it is usually 3 weeks to receive the reports. After that the engineers can begin design.
  • We have received a portion of the temporary funding and will be reimbursing the UP capital over the next few weeks. This temporary funding should cover the remaining costs of design.
  • As for the funding applications, we have received notice that we were selected for one of the grants we were applying for. Over the next few weeks, John and I will be submitting the reports/documentation needed to solidify the grant. I will keep the Community updated with the amounts once I know more.
  • Updated reports are being sent to EPA and KDHE and they are satisfied with the progress.
  • Last week, I received all of the remaining environmental impact letters. I plan to get the environmental report written in the next few weeks to finish the application for the USDA grant/loan and KDHE SRF loan.

August 4, 2023 – We are working on options to keep the non-discharging lagoon as far from UP properties as possible. We are still focusing on a non-discharging lagoon and plan to move forward with boring samples soon.

Funding applications are nearing completion, and we are currently waiting on responses from several governmental agencies on environmental impacts which should come within the next month.  I will keep you updated with any new developments and commission presentations.